Bing Crosby
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Bing Crosby was an American popular singer and Academy Award-winning actor. He had 38 No. 1 singles, which surpassed even Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Though he is sometimes now forgotten, Bing was one of the biggest music and without doubt, the most popular and influential media star of the first half of the 20th century. The undisputed best-selling artist until well into the rock era. According to the Guinness Book of Records, his single, "White Christmas" has sold over 100 million copies around the world, with at least 50 million sales as singles.
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[edit] About
Bing Crosby was born "Harry Lillis Crosby" in Tacoma, Washington on May 3, 1903. The fourth of seven children in a poverty-level family that loved to sing. In 1906, his family moved to Spokane. In 1920 Bing entered Gonzaga College to study law. His career choice changed, however, after he bought a mail-order set of drums and joined a local group called The Musicaladers, singing and playing drums with the group throughout college. When the group broke up in 1925 Bing and Al headed to Los Angeles, where they joined the vaudeville circuit. Their big break came one night in 1926 when orchestra leader Paul Whiteman heard them sing and hired them. As the vocal trio known as The Rhythm Boys they soon achieved national popularity through their recordings with not only the Whitman orchestra, but with Bix Beiderbeck and Frankie Trumbaur in 1928 and the Dorsey brothers orchestra in 1929. The trio even cut one record in 1930 with the Duke Ellington orchestra called Three Little Words. The result was a big hit, and they soon became Paul's star attraction.
Bing's love for having a good time eventually began to get in the way of his performances. He was arrested for drunken driving during the filming of the movie "The King of Jazz", featuring Paul and his orchestra. After making the film, Bing left the band to work as a single. He became a near overnight sensation as a solo act in 1932 through a series of star radio appearances and a record breaking run on stage at New York's famed Paramount Theatre. Between 1944 and 1948 Bing was the number one box office draw in the country. In 1948 he won an Oscar for his performance as a priest in Going My Way. Some of his most popular films include the Road movies with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour.
Bing's biggest musical hit was his recording of the Irving Berlin classic 'White Christmas'. He first sang the song in 1942, and it became one of the best-selling recordings of all time. "White Christmas" became the bestselling single for more than 50 years until overtaken in 1997 by "Candle in the Wind", Elton John's tribute to the late Princess Diana. According to the Guinness Book of Records, his "White Christmas" has sold over 100 million copies around the world, with at least 50 million sales as singles.
He collected 21 other gold records, including 'I'll Be Home for Christmas', 'Too-Ra-Lo-Ra-Loo-Ral' and 'Swinging on a Star'. In 1960 he received a platinum record as First Citizen of the Record Industry for having sold 200 million discs, a number that doubled by 1980. In 1962 Bing was the first recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is considered the most successful musical artist of all-time. His recording and film activities fell off during the late sixties and early seventies as he was plagued by health problems. A non-cancerous tumor was removed from Bing's lung in 1973. After his recovery, he resumed an active career, recording ten albums in the last three years of his life. He died in 1977 on a golf course in Spain, having just completed the 18th hole.
[edit] Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | National Board of Review | Best Acting for "Birth of The Blues" | |
| 1954 | National Board of Review | Best Actor for "The Country Girl" |
[edit] Chart Toppers
[edit] News
[edit] Tours & Concerts
There are no current tour and concert schedules for Bing Crosby.
[edit] Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 1950 Decca |
 1950 Columbia |
 1950 MCA |
 1956 Decca |
 1956 Verve |
 1957 RCA Victor |
 1958 RCA Victor |
 June 21, 1994 |
 1998 |
 July 31, 2001 Image |
 September 24, 2002 Sounds of Yesteryear |
[edit] Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | White Christmas | MCA |
| 2007 | Little Drummer Boy | Beatbull |
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
| Date | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1926 | 1926-1932 | Timeless |
| 1927 | The Classic Years in Digital Stereo: 1927-1934 | BBC |
| 1928 | Bing Crosby The Crooney: The Columbia Years 1928-1934 | Columbia |
| 1932 | Bing Crosby Sings Irving Berlin and Rodgers &... | Conifer |
| 1935 | Bing Crosby and Some Jazz Friends | Decca |
| 1939 | Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters: Their Complete Recordings Together | MCA |
| 1943 | WWII Radio Broadcast October 7, 1945 and December 16, 1943 | Laserlight |
| 1944 | WWII Radio Broadcast March 9, 1944 and June 15, 1944 | Laserlight |
| 1949 | Merry Christmas | Decca |
| 1949 | Crosby Classics, Vol.1 | Columbia |
| 1949 | Hits From Musical Comedies | Decca |
| 1950 | Bing Sings The Hits | Decca |
| 1950 | Crosby Classics, Vol.2 | Columbia |
| 1950 | Stardust | Decca |
| 1950 | Auld Lang Syne | Decca |
| 1950 | Christmas Greetings | Decca |
| 1951 | Collector's Classics | Decca |
| 1951 | Bing's Buddies | Magic |
| 1951 | Hits From Broadway Shows | Decca |
| 1952 | When Irish Eyes Are Smiling | Decca |
| 1954 | Songs Hits of Paris | Decca |
| 1954 | Some Fine Old Chestnuts | Decca |
| 1956 | Home on The Range | Decca |
| 1956 | White Christmas | Decca |
| 1957 | The Christmas Story | Grand Award |
| 1957 | Ali Baba & The Forty Thieves & Other Favorites | Grand Award |
| 1958 | A Christmas Sing with Bing Around The World | MCA |
| 1958 | That Christmas Feeling | MCA |
| 1959 | A Musical Autobiography (1927-1934) | Decca |
| 1959 | A Musical Autobiography (1934-1941) | Decca |
| 1959 | A Musical Autobiography (1941-1944) | Decca |
| 1959 | A Musical Autobiography (1944-1947) | Decca |
| 1959 | A Musical Autobiography (1947-1953) | Decca |
| 1959 | The Voice of Bing in The 30's | Brunswick |
| 1961 | My Golden Favorites | Decca |
| 1962 | Bing Crosby Christmas Classics | Capitol |
| 1962 | Only Forever | Decca |
| 1962 | Pocketful of Dreams | Pro Arte |
| 1962 | Swingin' on A Star | MCA |
| 1962 | I Wish You A Merry Christmas | Warner Bros. |
| 1964 | The Very Best of Bing Crosby | MGM |
| 1965 | Bing Crosby | Metro |
| 1967 | Bing Crosby in Hollywood | Columbia |
| 1968 | The Bing Crosby Story, Vol.1: The Early Jazz Years, 1928-1932 | Sony |
| 1969 | Rendezvous | RCA Candem |
| 1975 | The All-Time Best of Bing Crosby | Curb |
| 1977 | Bing Crosby's Christmas | CAT |
| 1977 | Bing Crosby's Greatest Hits | MCA |
| 1980 | The Best of Bing Crosby | Decca |
| 1980 | Tribute To Duke | Concord Jazz |
| 1980 | Shilelaghs and Shamrocks | MCA |
| 1986 | Bing Crosby Sings Again | MCA |
| 1986 | Bing Cosby Sings Christmas Songs | MCA |
| 1987 | Bing Just Breezin' Along | EMI |
| 1987 | The Complete Bing Crosby | Silver Eagle |
| 1987 | The Radio Years, Vol.1 | GNP |
| 1989 | Bing Crosby Sings More Great Songs | Hallmark |
| 1989 | MacNamara's Band | Universal Special Products |
| 1990 | The Christmas Songs | Vintage Jazz Classic |
| 1991 | A Visite To The Movies | Laserlight |
| 1991 | White Christmas | Pilz |
| 1991 | Merry Christmas | Sugarhill |
| 1991 | That's Jazz | Pearl Flapper |
| 1991 | Crosby Family Christmas | Pilz |
| 1992 | The Movie Hits | Pearl Flapper |
| 1992 | Collection | Castle |
| 1992 | White Christmas | Laserlight |
| 1992 | 16 Most Requested Songs | Columbia |
| 1992 | Happy Holidays | Special Music |
| 1992 | Christmas With Bing | CEMA |
| 1992 | My Happiness | Parrot |
| 1992 | The Jazzin' Bing Crosby 1927-1940 | Affinity |
| 1993 | Dance Hall Days | Sound Solutions |
| 1993 | Great Years | Pearl |
| 1993 | Blue Hawaii Compilation | Axis EMI |
| 1993 | How Lucky Can You Get! | EMI |
| 1993 | The Best of Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire | Capitol |
| 1994 | Classic Crosby: 1931 to 1938 | ABC |
| 1994 | WWII Radio Christmas | Delta |
| 1994 | World War II Radio | Laserlight |
| 1994 | 32 Early Crosby Classics, Vol. 1 | Columbia Special Prod |
| 1994 | Hollywood Guys & Dolls, Vol.1 | Parrot |
| 1994 | Hollywood Guys & Dolls, Vol.2 | Parrot |
| 1994 | Quintessential | Castle |
| 1994 | Christmas Gift Collection | Dejavu |
| 1994 | Gold Christmas Collection | Devaju |
| 1994 | On A Treasure Island | JSP |
| 1994 | Immortal | Avid |
| 1994 | Bing Crosby and Friends | ASV |
| 1994 | Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 to 1957 | MCA |
| 1994 | Duets With Friends | Blue Moon |
| 1994 | Moonlight Becomes You | Charly |
| 1994 | The Bing Crosby Years | MCA |
| 1995 | Christmas Album | Rebound |
| 1995 | Hey Look Us Over | Jasmine |
| 1995 | A Crosby Christmas | BMG |
| 1995 | Everything I Have is Yours | BMG |
| 1995 | Christmas Classic | Chicago Music |
| 1995 | Bing Crosby in Hollywood 1930-1933 | Chansons Cinema |
| 1995 | I'm An Old Cowhand | ASV |
| 1995 | Christmas Wishes | Cema Special Markets |
| 1995 | Christmas With Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole & Dean Martin | Cema Special Markets |
| 1995 | Bing Crosby & Bob Hope | Radiola |
| 1995 | Bing Crosby on Radio in the Thirties (1937-1938) | Enterprise |
| 1995 | Christmas Through The Years | Laserlight |
| 1995 | Christmas with Bing Crosby | CEMA |
| 1995 | Essential Collection | Wisepack |
| 1996 | Greatest Hits: 1934-1943 | EPM |
| 1996 | A Little Bit of Irish | Atlantic |
| 1996 | Greatest Hits on Radio, Vol.1 (1931-1938) | Enterprise |
| 1996 | American Legends No.7:Bing Crosby | Laserlight |
| 1996 | Duets 47-49 | Vipers Nest Gold |
| 1996 | Happy Holiday With Bing | Spokane |
| 1996 | Christmas wiht Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra | Pilz |
| 1996 | Those Great World War II Songs | Double Gold |
| 1996 | Movie Medleys | Demand Performances |
| 1996 | At His Best | Simitar |
| 1996 | The Radio Years | Hallmark |
| 1996 | My Favorite Country Songs | Universal Special Products |
| 1996 | Members Edition | TKO |
| 1996 | The Best of Bing Crosby | MCA |
| 1996 | The Best of Bing | Hallmark |
| 1996 | The Chronological Bing Crosby, Vol. 11:1932 | Jonzo |
| 1996 | The Definitive Collection | Music |
| 1996 | Too Marvelous For Words: 20 Chart Toppers | Charly UK |
| 1997 | My Favorite Hawaiian Songs | Universal Special Products |
| 1997 | My Favorite Love Songs | Universal Special Products |
| 1997 | My Favorite Hymns | Universal Special Products |
| 1997 | Happy Holidays | Beacon |
| 1997 | Merry Christmas | Unison |
| 1997 | That Christmas Feeling | Unison |
| 1997 | Bing Crosby: Members Edition | United Audio |
| 1997 | Great Film Songs | Great Movie Themes |
| 1997 | Bing Crosby's Gold Records | MCA |
| 1997 | Revue Collection | Jazz Unlimited |
| 1997 | Bing Crosby & His Hollywood Guests | Avid |
| 1998 | Bing Crosby with Ella Fitzgerald & Peggy Lee | Avid |
| 1998 | Bing Crosby with Judy Garland & Al Jolson | Avid |
| 1997 | Bing Sings Country | Hallmark |
| 1997 | The Chronological Bing Crosby, Vol.12:1932-1933 | Jonzo |
| 1997 | The Complete United Artists Sessions | EMI |
| 1998 | My Favorite Irish Songs | Universal Special Products |
| 1998 | Going Hollywood, Vol. 1:1930-1936 | Jasmine |
| 1998 | Selection of Bing Crosby | Golden Sounds |
| 1998 | Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney | Mastertone |
| 1998 | You, The Night & The Music | Avid |
| 1998 | Portrait of Bing Crosby | Gallery |
| 1998 | Ultimate Collection | MCA International |
| 1998 | The Holiday Album | Fine Tune |
| 1998 | Christmas Gold | Weton |
| 1998 | Bing Crosby | Goldies |
| 1998 | Million Sellers | Prism |
| 1998 | Songs From The Movies | Empress |
| 1999 | Road To Morocco | Nostalgia |
| 1999 | 20th Century Masters- The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bing Crosby | MCA |
| 1999 | Bing Crosby Kraft Shows, Vol.1 | Lost Gold |
| 1999 | Bing Crosby & Friends: Radio Years | Hallmark |
| 1999 | 20 Crosby Classics | Empire Music |
| 1999 | King Bing | Hallmark |
| 1999 | The Best of Bing | Hallmark |
| 1999 | Forever Gokd | St. Clair |
| 1999 | Bing Crosby and Friends: 1938-1949 | Dutton Vocalion |
| 1999 | Essential | Red X Entertainment |
| 1999 | Bing's Best | Charly |
| 1999 | The Collection | Universal |
| 1999 | The Very Best of Bing Crosby Christmas | MCA |
| 1999 | Bing Crosby Cavalcade of Songs | Festivals |
| 1999 | Cocktail Hour | Columbia River |
| 1999 | The Legendary Bing Crosby | Dressed To Kill |
| 1999 | Great Moments wiht Friends | On The Air |
| 1999 | Road To Hollywood, Vol.1 | Great Movie Themes |
| 1999 | Road To Hollywood, Vol.2 | Great Movie Themes |
| 1999 | Bing and Al, Vol. 1: 1947 | Totem |
| 1999 | Bing and Al, Vol. 2: 1949-1950 | Totem |
| 1999 | Bing and Al, Vol. 3 | Totem |
| 1999 | Bing and Al, Vol. 4 | Totem |
| 1999 | Bing Crosby & The Rhythm Boys | Arcadia |
| 1999 | Crosbyana, Vol.1 | Broadway |
| 1999 | Crosbyana, Vol.3 | Broadway |
| 1999 | Crosbyana, Vol.4 | Broadway |
| 1999 | Crosbyana, Vol.5 | Broadway |
| 1999 | Crosbyana, Vol.6 | Broadway |
| 1999 | Crosbyana, Vol.8 | Broadway |
| 1999 | Crosbyana: The Fabulous Rice, Vol.2 | Mock Turtle |
| 1999 | Philco Radio Time Broadcasts | Totem |
| 1999 | Legends of The 20th Century | MCA International |
| 2000 | Collection of Classics | Legacy Entertainment |
| 2000 | The Old Lamplighter | Prestige Recordings |
| 2000 | Love Songs | Mastering |
| 2000 | Magic Collection:Bing Crosby | Magic Collection |
| 2000 | Sound of The Movies | Sound of The Movies |
| 2000 | Universal Legends | IMS |
| 2000 | Bing Sings | Import |
| 2000 | Academy Award Winners & Nominees: 1934-1960 | MCA |
| 2000 | Bing's Magic | Magic |
| 2000 | The Great | Festival |
| 2000 | High Profile | Direct Source |
| 2000 | Blitz Hits | Decca |
| 2000 | Don't Fence Me In:22 Number 1 Hits | Castle Pulse |
| 2000 | Best of The War Years | Cleopatra |
| 2000 | A Merry Christmas with Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters | MCA |
| 2000 | The 3 Crooners | Emporio |
| 2000 | 20 Golden Favourites | Mastersound |
| 2001 | More of The Best of Bing Crosby | Appla |
| 2001 | 1930-1953:Song Hits From The Movies | Nimbus |
| 2001 | Cocktail Hour: Bing Cosby Duets | Allegro |
| 2001 | Bing Swings | Magic |
| 2001 | Day By Day | ZYX |
| 2001 | Too Marvelous For Words | Jasmine |
| 2001 | 50the Anniversary Concert at The London Palladium | EMI |
| 2001 | Christmas Special | Town Sound |
| 2001 | That Travelin' Two-Beat/Sings The Great Country Hits | Collector's Choice Music |
| 2001 | Christmas is A Comin' | MCA |
| 2001 | Bing Sings: 20 Classics | Planet Media |
| 2001 | King of The Best Sellers | Proper |
| 2001 | The Rhythm Boy | Proper |
| 2001 | Vocal Innovators and The Jazz Connection | Proper |
| 2002 | Golden Greats | Disky |
| 2002 | No.1 Hits & Millioun Sellers | Castle Pie |
| 2002 | Christmas Story: A Holiday Musical Told and Sung by Bing Crosby | Medalist |
| 2002 | All The Number-One Hits | Goldies |
| 2002 | CBS Radio 1947 | Newsound 2000 |
| 2002 | With A Song in My Heart | Spectrum |
| 2002 | Christmas Superstars | Direct Source |
| 2002 | Legacy | Newsound 2000 |
| 2002 | Wonderful Together | Newsound 2000 |
| 2002 | At Christmas | Spectrum |
| 2002 | A Winter Wonderland | EMI |
| 2002 | Sing and Swing with Bing | TIM |
| 2003 | Cowboy Country Crosby Style | Jasmine |
| 2003 | The Golden Years of Bing Crosby | Union Square Music |
| 2003 | True Love | Delta |
| 2003 | A Centennial Anthology of His Decca Recordings | MCA |
| 2003 | Another Ride in Cowboy Country | Jasmine |
| 2003 | The Centenary Collection | Import |
| 2003 | Bing and Friends Christmas | Direct Source |
| 2003 | 16 Greatest Hits | Publicdom |
| 2003 | Classic American Voices | Direct Source |
| 2003 | Best of Bing Crosby: 20th Century Masters/The Christmas Collection | MCA |
| 2003 | Bing Crosby: Movies & Songs | Rajon |
| 2003 | Swinging on A Star: His Fifty Greatest Hits of the 30's and 40's | Festival |
| 2003 | The 20 Most Requested | Festival |
| 2003 | Forever Bing | Spectrum |
| 2004 | Classic Bing: 60 Classic Favourites | Import |
| 2004 | Kraft Shows | Falcone Music |
| 2004 | 50 Original Recordings | Prism |
| 2004 | Two of A Kind | Universal Special Products |
| 2004 | Tribute To Duke | JVC Victor |
| 2004 | Classic Holiday Treasures | Direct Source |
| 2004 | Swingin' with Bing! Bing Crosby's Lost Radio Performances | Shout!Factory |
| 2004 | Christmas Songs | Christmas Legneds |
| 2004 | The Christmas Album | Metro |
| 2004 | Have Yourself A Merry Christmas | Liquid 8 |
| 2004 | Golden Legends | St. Clair |
| 2004 | Home and The Range | Universal |
| 2004 | Bing and His Gal Pals | Riff City |
| 2005 | Radio Stars of America | ASV |
| 2005 | Only The Number 1's | K-Tel Entertainment |
| 2005 | Just The Way You Are | Sunflower |
| 2005 | Love is Just Around | Weton Wesgram |
| 2005 | America's Favorite Entertainer | Allegro |
| 2005 | The Christmas Anthology: 1945-1955 | Cleopatra |
| 2005 | Double Goldies | Goldies |
| 2005 | Bing Crosby Meets Al Jolson | Sepia Recordings |
| 2006 | 29 Classics | Air |
| 2006 | The Definitive Collection | Geffen |
| 2006 | Film Favourites | Pegasus |
| 2006 | El Rancho Grande | Weton Wesgram |
| 2006 | Good & Rare | Sepia Recordings |
| 2006 | The Centennial Anthology | Masters Classic |
| 2006 | The Golden Era of Music | EMI |
| 2006 | EMI Comedy: Bing Crosby & Bob Hope | EMI Gold |
| 2006 | Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics | Capitol |
| 2006 | 25 Cowboy & Western Songs | Country Stars |
| 2006 | Hits of Bing Crosby | Northquest |
| 2007 | Christmas with Bing Crosby and Perry Como | St. Clair |
| 2007 | Forever Gold: White Christmas | St. Clair |
| 2007 | Spending The Holidays with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra | Direct Source |
| 2007 | Christmas Legends: Bing Crosby, Brenda Lee & Burl Ives | Madacy Special MKTS |
| 2007 | Bing's Hollywood | Decca |
| 2007 | Come Share The Wine | United Artist |
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Influences
[edit] Trivia
- The nickname “Bing” came at an early age and is really short for “Bingo,” a character in the comic strip “The Bingville Bugle” which he loved to read as a child.
- From the 1940s to the 1960s he owned 15% of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. His cameo in Angels in the Outfield (1951) was as part-owner of the team.
- Sang on radio at least once a week from 1931 to 1962.
- Pictured on a 29 cent U.S. commemorative postage stamp in the "Legends of American Music" series, issued September 1st 1994.
- He is only one of four actors to be nominated for an Oscar twice for playing the same role in two separate films. He played Father O'Malley in Going My Way (1944) (for which he won the Oscar) and The Bells of St. Mary's (1945). The others are Paul Newman as Fast Eddie Felson in The Hustler (1961) and The Color of Money (1986), Peter O'Toole as Henry II in Becket (1964) and The Lion in Winter (1968) and Al Pacino as Michael Corleone for The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974).
- According to ticket sales Crosby is, at 1,077,900,000 tickets sold, the third most popular actor of all time after Clark Gable and John Wayne.
- Between 1915 and 1980 he was the only motion-picture star to rank as the #1 box-office attraction five times (1944-48). Between 1934 and 1954 he scored in the top ten 15 times.
- In 1962 Crosby was the first recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Was the first person to sing "White Christmas".
